Motor-vehicle.



N0. 69|,206- Patented lan. I4, |992.

G. F. TADINI.

MUTDR VEHICLE.

(Application led Oct. 4, 1901.]

(No Model.)

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Farmer trice.

GEROME F. TADINI, OF NEV YORK, N; Y.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,20 6, dated January14, 1902. Application filed October 4.1901. Serial No. 77,533. (Nomodel.)

T0 [all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEROME F. TADINI, a subject of the Kingof Italy,residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented an Improvement in Motor-Vehicles, of which thefollowing is a specilication.

My invention relates to motor-vehicles,and particularly to that partcomprising the means whereby the driving-axle is connected to its wheelsand means for controlling the said connection.

I-Ieretofore various devices have been employed to compensate for thedifferent velocities attained by the Wheels on the drivingaxle when thevehicle is rounding curves. Devices have also been constructed using acontinuous axle and in which either the outer or inner wheel is freedfrom the driving-axle when the vehicle is rounding curves. My inventionrelates to this latter class of devices; and it consists in an improvedconnection between the driving-axle and the wheels wherein the outerWheel is automatically freed by its greater velocity in rounding cornersand means whereby, if desirable, the outer wheel may be caused to remainclutched and the inner wheel freed.

In carrying out my invention I employ threaded cone-shaped memberson theaxle, and the inner sides of the hubs of the wheels are adapted toreceive the said cone-shaped members to clutch and unclutch the wheelsfrom the shaft, this being accomplished through means operated by afoot-lever, as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l is an end elevation of the threadedcone-clutch. Fig. 2 is an end view ofthe saine. Fig. 3 is a partialsection through the hub of the wheel used on the left side of thevehicle. Fig. 4 is a partial section showing the hub of the wheel andcone used on the left side of the vehicle with the axle in place. Fig. 5is a similar view showing the hub and cone of the Wheel used on theright side of the vehicle. Fig. (5 is a section of the foot-lever andconnecting parts for operating the clutches. Fig. 7 isa transversesectionfon line o; so, Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is an elevation of thedriving-axle and wheels and controlling mechanism.

a represents a truncated cone havinga cylindrical base, the surface ofthe conical portion being cut into a screw-thread, preferably asquare-section thread. This cone ct has a hollow circular center 2,which is provided with grooves 3 at diainetricallly opposite points. Thecone used with the wheel on the left-hand side is provided with arighthand thread and the cone on the opposite side with a left-handthread.

b represents the hubs of the wheels, having suitable bearings c. Theinner ends of the hubs are extended and enlarged, as at d, and the boresof the enlarged portions are tapering and provided with interior threadsadapta ed to be engaged with those of the respective cones.

The driving-axle e is provided with splines f at diametrically oppositepoints adjacent tothe reduced end portions e', which pass through thebearings of the wheels. The cones a lit over the axle at the portionswhere the splines f are, the said splines passing into the grooves ofthe cones, the joints between the axle and the cones being snug, butsufficiently loose to permit the cones to slide slightly on the axle.

The axle-bearings 4, supporting the body of the vehicle, areconveniently placed with their outer ends adjacent to the faces of thecone-clutches o.. Helical springs 5 surround the axle between the conesand the bearing devices 4., the sp1-"ings tending to keep the cones intheir proper normal positions.

It will now be apparent that when the vehicle is rounding a curve theincreased speed of the outer wheel over the speed of the axle, due toits greater travel, will cause the Wheel to become disengagedautomatically from its clutch, and the said wheel will then be free toturn on its bearing independently of the speed of the axle, and thedriving will all be done through the inside wheel. Vhen the vehiclereturns to a straight path, the freed wheel will again engage with itsclutch, and the driving power will be transmitted to both wheels alike."But when iu rounding corners the driving is done from the inside wheel,the driving power must necessarily be decreased to maintain the speed ofthe vehicle, because otherwise the vehicle speed v cess 15.

vided with teeth 16.

would be increased, due to the shorter travel of the inside Wheel. Anincreased speed in rounding corners is not always advantageous, and adecreased speed without changing the power is generally desirable. Inorder to obtain this result and also to keep both Wheels clutched ifoccasion so demands, I employ a lever 7l, pivoted to the vehicle-body at6 and carrying a toothed segment n.

The lever t' extends rthrough the ioor 7 of the vehicle-body and iscapable of being moved on its pivot in a vertical plane or laterally.Iprovide bars 8 and 9, which are connected to `the cones a by other bars10 and 11, the ends of bars 10 and 11 being adapted to fit intocircumferential recesses 12 in the cones a. The adjacent ends ofthe bars8 and 9 are provided, respectively, with right and left hand threads,and these ends pass into a collar 13, adapted to receive them. On thecollar 13 and preferably integral therewith is a broad flange 14, havinga circumferential recess 15, a portion of the base of which latter ispro- The teeth of the segment n mesh with the teeth 16 in the recess 15,and the lever z' is also provided with a surface bearing upon the upperpart of the re- The rods S and 9 should be supported in suitablebearings 17, in which they are free to turn, and the lever andconnections may be maintained in their normal positions by means of aspring or otherwise. From this construction it Will be readily apparentthat by moving the top of the lever forward the bars 8 and 9 will bemoved Vout- Ward, binding both clutches to the hubs of their respectiveWheels. By moving the top of the lever backward both Wheels will befreed from their clutches, Whereas in moving the lever to the righttheleft-hand wheel will be clutched and the right-hand wheel freed andin moving the lever to the left the righthand wheel will be bound andthe left-hand wheel freed.

The above-described operation of the parts becomes possible by firstslowing the motor and driving-shaft and causing the Wheels tomomentarily turn faster than the axle speed to free the wheels, afterwhich either Wheel may at pleasure be clutched by the hereindescribedmechanism and the motor again be brought up to speed. Therefore inrounding corners With motor-vehicles embracing my present improvementsthe outside wheel of the driving-shaft is automatically freed and thedriving done through the inside wheel, or the inside wheel may be freedand the veh icle driven by the outside wheel, or both wheels may be keptclutched at pleasure, which latter condition is necessary inreversing-the vehicle.

I claim as my inventionl. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with aone-piece driving-axle and Wheels therefor, of threadedcone-clutchconnections between the said axle and the hubs of said wheelswhereby in rounding curves the outer of said Wheels will be freed by itsincreased velocity, substantially as specified.

2. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a one-piece driving-axle andwheels therefor, of threaded cone-clutch connections between the saidaxle and the hubs of said Wheels whereby in rounding curves the outer ofsaid wheels will be freed by its increased velocity, substantially asspecified.

3. In a motor-vehicle the combination With a one-piece driving-axle, ofthreaded coneclutches on said axle, means permitting longitudinalmovement and preventing the said clutches from turning on the said axle,Wheels on the said axle the inner ends of the hubs of which are enlargedto receive and are adapted to be engaged by the said clutches, and meansfor determining the positions of the said clutches on the said axle,substantially as set forth. 4. In a motor-vehicle, the combination witha one-piece driving-axle, of threaded cone .clutches on said axle, meanspermitting longitudinal movement and preventing the said clutches fromturning on the said axle,wheels on the axle, the inner ends of the hubsof which are enlarged to receive and are adapted to be engaged by thesaid clutches, and means for shifting and operating the clutches uponthe freeing of the wheels, substantially as specified.

5. In a motor-vehicle, the combination With a one-piece driving-axle, ofthreaded coneclutches on said axle, means permitting 1ongitudinalmovement and preventing the said clutches from turning on the said axle,wheels on the axle, the inner ends of the hubs of which are enlarged toreceive and are adapted to be engaged by the said clutches, and meansfor keeping both wheels clutched, substantially as specified.

6. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a one-piece driving-axle, ofthreaded coneclutches on said axle, means permitting longitudinalmovement and preventingV the said clutches from turning on the saidaxle, Wheels on the axle, the inner ends of the hubs of which areenlarged to receive and are adapted to be engaged by the said clutches,and means for freeing one wheel and clutching the other wheel, and alsofor keeping both Wheels lutched at pleasure, substantially as speci- 7.In a'motor-vehicle, the combination with a one-piece driving-axle, ofthreaded coneclutches on saidaxle, means permitting longitudinalmovement and preventing the said clutches from turning on the said axle,wheels on the axle, the innerv ends of the hubs of which are enlarged toreceive and are adapted tobe engaged by the said clutches, a pivotedfoot-lever, a toothed segment carried by said lever,bars connected tothe said clutches IOO the inneiendsof the bars being provided with theWheels may be locked at pleasure, subright and left hand threadsrespectively, a stantially as set forth. lo collar fitting over the saidinnei1 ends of the Signed by me this 17th day of September, bars thesaid collar having a eircumferen- 1901.

5 tially-reeessed ange, at the bottom ot' which GEROME F. TADINI.

are teeth meshing with those of the toothed Witnesses: segment, andmeans for operating the said le- K GEO. T. PINGKNEY,

ver whereby either of the Wheels or both of l BERTHA M. ALLEN.

